Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the duration of a criminal conviction, and the time since such a conviction, which is taken into account when assessing the suitability of a driver to drive a Bus Éireann school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64128/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Bus Éireann administers the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The vetting of an application is carried out by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána with regard to an individual’s record of convictions in the Republic of Ireland or elsewhere, which includes all convictions and/or prosecutions, successful or not, pending or completed.

Where it is disclosed to Bus Éireann that an individual has a previous conviction/case pending, a thorough and objective risk assessment is carried out including one’s honesty when completing the form itself. Each case is treated individually giving due regard to the circumstances that pertained at the time. Factors considered include the responsibility of a service provider towards children and vulnerable adults and the duty to provide them with the highest standards of transport service, due care, and protection, while at the same time giving due consideration to the rights of the individual.

Every individual involved in vetting is afforded the opportunity to discuss the contents of his/her vetting form in confidence with Bus Éireann's Liaison Persons who deal exclusively with Garda vetting and have attended training with the National Vetting Bureau in this regard.

The safety, care and protection of school children travelling on their services is of paramount importance to Bus Éireann and ensuring that school bus drivers satisfy necessary standards is crucial to the successful and safe operation of the services provided under the School Transport Scheme. Bus Éireann reserves the right at its absolute discretion to object at any time to any person nominated or engaged by a Contractor as a driver of a School Transport service.